Fruit of the Spirit

For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth...Eph 5:9

Spring 2006                                                            Volume 7, Issue 2

Things That Were Written Aforetime...

Lessons in Old Testament Scripture...Romans 15:4

 

Five Pertinent Points

Listen carefully to these great words of Samuel, “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you” (1 Samuel 12:23-24). Five important points are made by Samuel in this passage. Let’s examine each one.

1. Samuel said that he would not cease to pray for them. What a beautiful thought! Samuel was busy praying for Israel. He was deeply concerned because of their wickedness. Do we pray for our brethren? Hebrews 13:18 simply says, “Pray for us…” Brethren, let’s pray for one another.

2. Samuel said, “...I will teach you the good and the right way…” The purpose of all our lives should be to teach others the good and right way. We must begin at home and then reach out to as many other people as we can. The good and right way is the only way that leads to heaven. We must never forget this.

3. Samuel said, “...only fear the Lord…” Today, do you stand in awe of God? Do you reverence Him? Solomon said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…” (Proverbs 1:7). May we all be wise by fearing God and not be as the fool who says in his heart, “...there is no God…” (Psalm 14:1).

4. Samuel said, “...serve him in truth with all your heart…” In this statement we see two essentials in pleasing God — truth and heart. The truth, of course, is God’s Word (John 17:17). “With all the heart” means that we are sincerely dedicated to His purpose. Joshua said, “Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth…” (Joshua 24:14). Today, are you serving God in truth with all your heart?

5. Samuel said, “...for consider how great things he hath done for you.” What a statement! Why should we serve Him in truth with all the heart? The answer: because of what He hath done for you! Samuel was telling the Israelites to just stand back and look at what God had done for them. This is what we all need to do. John said, “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). If we will consider what He has done for us it will make a great difference in our lives.

I think you will agree that 1 Samuel 12:23, 24 is a tremendous passage of Scripture. Samuel was a great man. May we listen to him and follow his example.

Pat McIntosh
(The Entrusted Word, Vol. 1, No. 3, Pg. 10)

Fruit Of The Spirit

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Page 1 - True Worship | Page 2 - True Worship (Cont.)
Page 3 - Prison Report | Page 4 - Old Testament Studies
Page 5 - Discouragement | Page 6 - Understandest Thou What Thou...
Page 7 - Christian Evidences | Page 8 - A Remedy For Troubled Hearts
Page 9 - The Christian Home | Page 10 - Continuations
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